PREDICTORS AND BARRIERS TO FAMILY PLANNING ACCESS THROUGH PHARMACIES AND DRUG SHOPS AMONG YOUNG WOMEN 15 – 24 YEARS IN NSANGI, WAKISO

Abstract

Background: Pharmacies and drug shops provide a unique opportunity for expanding FP access to adolescent girls and young women (Gonsalves et al., 2023), however there are still obstacles to access FP services through these outlets. The objective of the study was to understand the predictors and barriers to accessing FP services through pharmacies and drug shops among AGYW 15–24 years in Nsangi, Wakiso District. Methods: This was a cross-sectional mixed methods study, where both quantitative and qualitative techniques were used to collect data to understand the level of access to FP, the predictors and barriers to accessing FP services through pharmacies and drug shops. AGYW aged 15 -24 years were selected using a simple random sampling technique and the key informants were purposively selected. Structured questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data while Key informant interview (KII) guide was used to collect qualitative data. Qualitative data was analyzed using STATA version 15 while the qualitative data was analyzed manually using thematic analysis. Results: 384 AGYW participated in the study. The mean age was 20.74, about 41.7% were aged 22-24years while 17% were aged between 15-18 years. 65.4% had access to FP, however, those aged between 22–24 years were 5.6 times more likely to access FP services compared to those aged 15–18 years (AOR = 5.6, 95% CI: 1.79–17.38). AGYW who didn’t find privacy at the point of access were 53% less likely to access the FP services as compared to those who found privacy [C0R = 0.47] 95% CI (0.11, 1.83)]. Those whose culture did not accept the FP use were 44% less likely to access the FP as compared to those whose culture accepted it [C0R = 0.44] 95% CI (0.14, 1.87)] Conclusion. Age and being sexually active were key predictors of access to FP, while cost of contraceptives, lack of privacy and cultural unacceptance were key barriers to accessing FP services through pharmacies and drug shops among young women.